Dealing ice puts man in prison

A DRUG trafficker who had a pet crocodile was running a sophisticated operation peddling ice.

John Curtis Hines, 30, was yesterday sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to 12 charges including trafficking a dangerous drug, escape by persons in lawful custody, wilfully destroying Corrective Services property and possessing a protected animal.

Hines was also sentenced for using his mother to try to smuggle drugs into Townsville Correctional Centre, running away from police while being walked to the watch house, possessing a 20cm crocodile and climbing on to the roof of the prison.

Crown prosecutor William Slack told the court Hines was trafficking methamphetamine and cannabis between November 2015 and February 12, 2016.

Hines came to the attention of police during a large- scale drug operation where he was buying methylamphetamine from the operation’s main target.

He also sourced methamphetamine from other sources via text message and would buy up to an ounce at time for $ 10,000.

Hines had more than 40 customers. He was also selling cannabis as a side business.

Mr Slack said Hines was selling to other users as well as people who would on- sell the drug.

Hines’s Bowen home was raided on February 11, 2016 where police found $ 5950 in cash hidden in his bed, cutting agents, 15.5g of testosterone, 8g of cannabis, 1.5g of a substance containing methamphetamine and a 20cm crocodile in his fish tank.

He appeared in Proserpine Magistrates Court on February 12, 2016, before breaking free from police as they walked him to the watch house.

Hines was found soon after hiding in a bush nearby.

During an earlier stint in prison Hines had organised for his mother to try to smuggle drugs by hiding them in a cigarette packet.

She was caught in the prison carpark on July 11, 2015, with methamphetamine, cannabis and tobacco.

Two days later Hines climbed on to the roof of Townsville Correctional Centre where he urinated and damaged the roof before voluntarily coming down five hours later.

Justice David North said Hines had little prospect of turning his life around.

Hines will be eligible for parole on February 11, 2018 after already serving 496 days behind bars waiting for his sentencing.